Episode 1 – My Country Has Fallen

“My country has fallen…”

Princess Eirin of the Forti Empire sat down in the dusty wilderness and whispered those words.

“Let go of me! His Majesty the Emperor said I should stay by Her Highness’s side!”

Her maid, Chera, was caught too and was struggling to break free.

Eirin’s eyes, which had been dull and lifeless, flickered with emotion at Chera’s words.

“…Chera.”

Even though her voice was weak and quiet, it was enough to make Chera stop moving.

—

The sun was blazing, making Eirin squint.

The unfamiliar landscape around her clearly showed that she was in a foreign land—the Mersen Empire, the land of her former lover.

Before she could take in the view, she was dragged away again.

They arrived at a prison—a place she had never imagined being in her life. The freezing stone floor sent shivers through her body.

Clang. The heavy iron door shut. Now she was completely alone.

Eirin whispered, “Where did it all go wrong…?”

She stared blankly at the air, lost in thought.

—

Suddenly, the sound of military boots approached—slow, heavy steps getting closer.

She feared it was time for torture, as the Mersen Empire was known to be cruel to war prisoners.

Her body trembled. She kept her head low, not wanting to show her fear.

Clank.

The lock turned, and the door creaked open. Then she heard a voice—a voice she feared yet longed to hear.

“Raise your head.”

It was a voice she had never heard in such a harsh tone before. Her heart sank.

Trying not to cry, she forced herself to stay strong.

“…Rin.”

The nickname from the past rolled gently from his lips.

Eirin slowly lifted her head.

The first thing she saw was his handsome face.

It was Iliad Bartendo de Mersen, the Crown Prince of the Mersen Empire—the man who destroyed her country.

His golden eyes were cold and emotionless.

“You look like a corpse,” he muttered.

His expression was empty, distant. Was this always how he looked?

Eirin opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

She looked at herself—dirty, weak, and compared to Iliad, who was dressed in fine clothes, she looked like nothing more than a fallen princess, lower than a slave.

Her gaze dropped in shame.

Then Iliad bent down to her level.

“Eirin, look at me.”

Their eyes met—her blue ones and his sharp gold ones. He gently removed the magical restraints from her wrists.

“I was worried you might hurt yourself. Please don’t be angry,” he said with a poor excuse.

Eirin’s mouth filled with the taste of blood—she had bitten her lips and tongue too hard.

‘You think I don’t know you?’

She knew those restraints were to stop her from escaping.

He had always been two-faced—pretending to care while hiding cruel intentions.

“You disgust me.”

Those were the first honest words from her mouth.

“You killed them, didn’t you? My father… my brother…”

Her weak body swayed, and Iliad quickly grabbed her wrist.

Her thin wrist was bruised and bleeding from the cuffs.

“Who did this to you…?” he muttered with anger.

“Answer me!” Eirin screamed.

“They’re already dead. What does it matter?” he said coldly.

“You’re insane… completely insane.”

She was furious, her breathing heavy.

Iliad stayed silent for a long time. Only when her breathing calmed down did he speak again.

“We heard the Second Prince is near the Achelhin region.”

That news brought Eirin’s mind back from her rage. She refocused.

—

“If you marry me, all of this land will be yours.”

“I refuse.”

Her firm answer made Iliad frown.

“If you want to go to the Second Prince, I’ll let you. But in two weeks, I’ll go to attack him.”

“You’re telling me in advance that you’re going to kill him?”

“And if I am?”

Two weeks. That wasn’t much time.

“Even if you go to him, he’ll probably die.

People are saying it’s your fault the Forti Empire fell—because of your relationship with me.”

Eirin gasped in disbelief.

“You’re the one spreading those rumors, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I didn’t mean to, but others believe it,” he replied.

Rumors had already spread that she was secretly involved with the enemy Crown Prince.

“Are you still going to go to him?”

‘Is he trying to stop me… in his own way?’

His expression was cold, but she wondered if he still had feelings for her.

If he truly cared, he wouldn’t have locked her up like this.

Or was it a warning?

“Stay by my side, or suffer like this.”

—

If she had been a little weaker, maybe she would’ve accepted his offer.

‘Then I’ll test him.’

Suddenly, Eirin grabbed his wrist and pulled him close.

Their lips touched—just lightly.

She had no strength to push him, but he didn’t move away either.

Instead, he froze, shocked.

A dumb expression crossed his face—something she had never seen from him before.

Eirin’s fingers slid under his sleeve, feeling his skin.

She could feel his heart racing.